Heddle frames



March 22, 1966 F. H. KAUFMANN 3,241,575

HEDDLE FRAMES Filed Jan. 10. 1964 2. Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. FRANK H. KA UFMA/V/V mam/OM 7 ATTORNEY March 22, 1966 F. H. KAUFMANN 3,241,575

HEDDLE FRAMES Filed Jan. 10, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 z M u r B 27 2g 2 46 as" f 2 INVENTOR. FRANK h. KAUFMAN ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,241,575 HEDDLE FRAMES Frank H. Kaufmann, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., assignor t0 Steel Heddle Manufacturing Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Jan. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 337,049 8 Claims. (Cl. 139-92) This invention relates to heddle frames for looms, and it relates more particularly to improved means, in such heddle frames and intermediate the side struts of the frame for preventing distortion, with respect to each other, of the top and bottom rails of the frame, whereby binding of the heddles on their supporting rods will be prevented.

This invention further relates to a center brace construction which is particularly suitable for heddle frames where the frame is actuated from the bottom for shedding.

In loom harness heddle frames it is customary to provide, adjacent the top and bottom rails, heddle supporting rods upon which the heddles used for shedding the warp are slidably mounted.

In some types of harness frames it has also been proposed to provide center braces. Specific illustrations of such braces are found in US. Patents Nos. 1,776,120, 1,887,326, 1,994,286, 2,002,548, 2,037,381, 2,211,271, 2,909,199, and others.

Many of the prior center braces extended through the top and bottom rails or were otherwise mounted so that they could not move sidewise in the harness frame. Others of the center braces relied upon frictional gripping engagement with the top and bottom edges or with all or part of the front and back faces of the heddle supporting rods. The prior center braces, by reason of their construction, were not suitable for maintaining the paralelism of the top and bottom rails and the heddle rods carried thereby with actuation from below.

. It is the principal object of the present invention to provide improved means for bracing the top and bottom rails of the frame intermediate their ends, so that the heddle rods will at all times be maintained in proper parallelism to the end that the heddles will be freely movable and will not bind thereon.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a center brace construction for heddle frames in which the brace has slidable mountings at the ends thereof to permit of limited sidewise movement of the center brace for assembly of the heddle rod thereto, and in use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a heddle frame which is particularly suited for heddle frames actuated from the bottom for shedding but which also has wider capabilities of use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a center brace construction for heddle frames in which the center brace has near each end a cutaway portion for reception of the heddle supporting rod and a projection for reception in an aperture in the heddle rod.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a center brace construction for heddle frames which is particularly suitable for heddle frames having the top and bottom rails of metal but which is also particularly suitable for heddle frames having the top and bottom rails made of wood.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of a heddle frame for looms with a center bracing construction in accordance with the invention forming a part thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional views, enlarged, taken approximately on the line 2--2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view of the stay rod and its mounting bracket;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing the center bracing construction applied to another type of heddle frame; and

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view, enlarged, taken approximately on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes may be made in the arrangement shown and described without department from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to FIGURES l to 3, inclusive, of the drawings in the particular embodiment of the invention therein shown, the heddle frame proper comprises top and bottom rails 10 of wood or metal.

The ends of the top and bottom rails are connected by end struts 11, of any preferred construction, which will provide a rigid connection between the ends of the top and bottom rails 10 to maintain the same at fixed distances apart.

Extending from end to end in the heddle frame are the top and bottom heddle supporting rods 12, upon which the heddles are slidably mounted in the usual and customary manner. The heddles 13 can be of any desired type with end eyes 14 engaging the heddle rods 12 and warp eyes 15 intermediate their ends. The heddles 13 can be of the character shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 of Patent No. 2,047,511, but are not limited to that type of heddle.

The heddle rods 12 can be secured in position in a well known manner, such as by spring members 16 engaged in apertures 17, as shown in prior Patent Nos. 2,560,512 and 2,796,083.

The harness frame, in accordance with the invention has one or more stay rods or braces 20, disposed intermediate the end struts 11, the number being determined by the width of the frame, the rigidity of the rails 10, and the loading applied thereon by the warp.

Each stay rod 20, at its upper and lower ends, is provided with an elongated mounting bracket 21 secured thereto in any desired manner to provide the necessary strength and rigidity. The bracket 21 is provided along the outer end thereof with a T-shaped slot 22 therealong for sidewise sliding engagement in the frame on a T-shaped track 23, and to which the slot 22 is complemental in shape. The track 23 is carried on a holder 24 which can be secured to the rails 10 in any desired manner. If the rails 10 are of wood, or of metal of appropriate inner edge shape, the holder 24 can be secured by screws 25.

The stay rods 20 spaced inwardly from each end have on one face thereof recesses 26 of a height slightly greater than the vertical dimension of the heddle supporting rods 12 with a central projection 27.

The heddle supporting rods 12, at the locations for the reception of the projections 27 have apertures 29 through which the projections 27 extend when the rods 12 are seated in the recesses 26.

The foregoing arrangement is such that the heddle rods 12 are inserted into the end struts 11. The heddles are separated to permit snapping onto the projection 27 at one of its apertures 29. The projection 27 also provides a gage for separation of the heddles. Accommodation of the position of the stay rod 20 to the positions of the heddles 13 endwise on the heddle rods 12 can be continuously effected within the limits permitted by the end fastenings of the heddle rods 12.

The relatively large areas of the bracket 21 and rail track 23 in engagement provide a hearing which even under pounding in use reduces wear while providing adequate support by the stay rod and permitting limited endwise movement in the frame.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and S in the form of the invention there shown the top and bottom rails 10a are shown as made of metal, and preferably extruded aluminum or magnesium alloys, with side struts 11:: secured thereto.

The rails 10a are preferably provided with inwardly extending flanges having the track 23a carried thereby on which the brackets 21 are slidably carried. The flanges 30 can have cutouts 32 for initial mounting of the brackets 21 without removing the end struts 11a.

It will thus be seen that effective stay rods 20 and their top and bottom end mountings have been provided slidably movable endwise in the frame for retaining the top and bottom rails 10 and the heddle rods 12 in predetermined spaced relation with changing stress attendant upon movement of the harness frames during shed formation.

By the foregoing arrangement there is provided a novel, efficient and useful form of structure for bracing loom harness frames intermediate their ends, whereby the required parallelism of the heddle supporting rods 12 may at all times be maintained to insure the proper functioning of the heddles, and to prevent the formation of warp streaks and other defects in the weave by reason of the heddles binding on the supporting rods, and with the bracing elements accommodating pounding yet movable to a limited extent endwise in the frame.

I claim:

1. In a heddle frame for looms comprising top and bottom rails, heddle supporting rods extending parallel to said rails, heddles slidably mounted on said rods, and means supporting said rods at fixed distances from the inner edges of the rails and maintaining the parallelism of the heddle rods comprising a stay rod extending respectively above and below the heddle supporting rods, said stay rod having at its upper and lower ends horizontally elongated brackets, horizontally elongated members carried by each of the top and bottom rails therealong on which said brackets are freely slidable endwise in the frame, and interengaging portions on said stay rods and said heddle rods retaining said heddle rods in parallel relation and limiting the relative longitudinal movement of said stay rods with respect to said heddle rods, said interengaging portions including an aperture in each of the heddle rods.

2. A heddle frame as defined in claim 1 in which said apertures are horizontally elongated and said interengaging portions includes projections on said stay rod extending into said apertures.

3. A heddle frame as defined in claim 1 in which said apertures are horizontally elongated and said stay rods has recesses in which said heddle rods are seated, and said interengaging portions include projections on said stay rod at an intermediate portion of each of said recesses extending into said apertures.

4. A heddle frame as defined in claim 1 in which said brackets have slots extending therealong and said members have tracks of complemental shape to said slots.

5. A heddle frame as defined in claim 1 in which said members are integral with said rails.

6. A heddle frame as defined in claim 1 in which securing devices are provided for attaching said members to said rails.

7. A stay bar for a heddle frame comprising a bar having elongated brackets at each end thereof perpendicular thereto, said brackets having bearing and mounting slots extending therealong, and said bar in spaced relation inwardly from said brackets having upper and lower heddle bar receiving recesses extending inwardly from one face thereof and intermediate the top and bottom of said recesses a projection extends toward said face.

8. In a heddle frame for looms comprising top and bottom rails, heddle supporting rods extending parallel to said rails, heddles slidably mounted on said rods, and means supporting said rods at fixed distances from the inner edges of the rails and maintaining parallelism of the heddle rods comprising a stay rod extending respectively above and below the heddle supporting rods, said stay rod at its upper and lower ends having elongated mounting brackets with slots extendin therealong, members carried by each of the top and bottom rails having horizontally elongated tracks extending along said rails to which said slots are complemental in shape and with which said brackets are engaged for freely slidable movement endwise in the frame, said stay rod inwardly of said brackets having recesses in which said heddle rods are seated, said heddle rods having horizontally elongated apertures therein and said stay rod having projections extending into said apertures limiting the relative movement of said stay rods and said heddle rods longitudinally and vertically.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,936,793 5/ 1960 Graf 139-92 FOREIGN PATENTS 503,831 6/1951 Belgium. 1,294,559 4/1962 France. 1,131,606 6/1962 Germany.

471,451 5/1952 Italy.

485,269 10/ 1953 Italy.

221,571 8/1942 Switzerland.

231,477 6/1944 Switzerland.

344,690 3/ 1960 Switzerland.

DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner.

J. KEE CHI, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A HEDDLE FRAME FOR LOOMS COMPRISING TOP AND BOTTOM RAILS, HEDDLE SUPPORTING RODS EXTENDING PARALLEL TO SAID RAILS, HEDDLES SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID RODS, AND MEANS SUPPORTING SAID RODS AT FIXED DISTANCES FROM THE INNER EDGES OF THE RAILS AND MAINTAINING THE PARALLELISM OF THE HEDDLE RODS COMPRISING A STAY ROD EXTENDING RESPECTIVELY ABOVE AND BELOW THE HEDDLE SUPPORTING RODS, SAID STAY ROD HAVING AT ITS UPPER AND LOWER ENDS HORIZONTALLY ELONGATED BRACKETS, HORIZONTALLY ELONGATED MEMBERS CARRIED BY EACH OF THE TOP AND BOTTOM RAILS THEREALONG ON 